After the debut of Fleximart on 1 Nov, Pandan Member of Parliament Dato’ Seri Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli is making good on his promise with the grand opening of Kesum on 8 Nov.
Both ventures form part of his ongoing effort to cushion Malaysians from the bite of inflation, especially when it comes to the soaring prices of everyday meals.
Rafizi describes both outlets as part of his “social experiment” — stores designed to make basic needs and ready-to-eat food more accessible to the public. Fleximart, located in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, opens daily from 7am to 10pm and carries the spirit of an affordable Family Mart.
Shelves are lined with budget-friendly groceries, while its Flexivending machines serve food under RM5. Even coffee lovers can grab a decent cup for as low as RM2.90 and no more than RM4.
Kesum in Pandan Indah, meanwhile, is all about comfort food that doesn’t break the bank. The eatery offers 7 hearty dishes, all priced below RM5 — from nasi lemak ayam and nasi lemak ayam berempah to lempeng with gulai ayam, fried yellow mee, and buffalo wings.
Rafizi explains the idea is to focus on the crowd favourites. “Fewer menu items mean lower running costs, and these are dishes Malaysians enjoy at any hour — breakfast, lunch, or dinner,” he shared.
What makes Kesum particularly intriguing is its model — affordable, straightforward, and replicable. Rafizi revealed that the startup cost for each Kesum outlet is only around RM90K, a fraction of what typical franchise chains require.
True to its name, Kesum is inspired by the local herb but also doubles as an acronym for Kenyang, Sedap, dan Murah — the very principles that define its value meal concept: filling, flavourful, and fairly priced.
If the response from Malaysians is encouraging, Rafizi aims to expand Fleximart and Kesum nationwide, creating a new kind of market force — one that empowers communities and helps curb the rising cost of food.
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